12 Sep, 2024 25 Ideas for Christmas
25 Ideas for returning CHRIST to CHRISTmas
Imagine the lead-up to December 25th, where every New Zealander, from young to old, encounters nativity scenes woven into the fabric of their daily journey.
Hope Project Christmas aspires to make CHRIST the CENTREPIECE at Christmas by encouraging individuals to display NATIVITIES wherever they can.
WHY…
Over time, Christmas traditions have shifted, and nativities that once boldly showcased Christ’s central role have gradually disappeared from public view.
NOW, imagine a world where, as December 25th approaches, every New Zealander—from the youngest to the oldest—encounters nativity scenes woven into the fabric of their daily journey. This simple idea will normalise nativities again in the public view, highlight Jesus’s significance at Christmas, influence negative perceptions, engage public curiosity, and inspire conversations.
MAKE IT HAPPEN…
Wherever people go and whatever they do, the nativity makes Jesus the season’s centrepiece. As the Church of Aotearoa, we can shift culture and refocus on Christ. Together, let’s use the simple NATIVITY imagery to bring Jesus back into view.
FOR PASTORS & CHURCH / SMALL GROUP LEADERS…
To have a nationwide impact, it depends on leaders to embrace and spread the simple vision that Hope Project Christmas represents amongst every member of their churches and other areas of influence.
We have ONE REQUEST – share the vision and promote these ideas with your church community. Spending just one minute over 2-3 Sundays in November and early December will help individuals see how their small contributions can make a significant impact.
Simply play the 60-second video or read the vision above and ideas below to achieve this.
Here are some ideas:
- Purchase and use nativity-related Christmas cards. Many shopping chains, $2 shops and Christian book stories stock them some ideas here
- Post nativity-related pictures on social media when saying ‘Merry Christmas’ Download graphics
- Enhance your Christmas decorations with nativity elements. When purchasing decorations, prioritise nativity-themed items to help drive their demand and reshape the market.
- Decorate windows or glass doors with Nativity window decal – which you can purchase here.
- Create Nativity lighting displays to go on church or home roofs, or in front of a building. Find ideas here
- Create or buy large nativity set that will stand out on your home lawn.
- Those with businesses likewise return nativity imagery to their window display or building decorations, lights and decal. You can download graphics for decal, poster designs and more here
- Businesses return Christmas carols with nativity-related lyrics to their in-store music playlists if they have been removed.
- Church small groups run relaxed year-end social celebrations to which friends are invited, respectfully including nativity imagery, and the story that springs from it.
- Businesses, churches and individuals put up billboards that include nativity imagery. You can download billboard designs here– which we could also edit for you upon request.
- Intentionally and prominently include nativity imagery in promotional materials you create for your Christmas events, rather than using ‘Santa’ imagery, bells, snow and the like.
- As churches, seek to facilitate community Christmas and Christmas carol gatherings that esteem family and community, while respecting the actual Christmas tradition, Christmas story and values history that explain why it became a cultural festival in our nation.
- Unite with other churches to create children’s Christmas gifts or Christmas food parcels for families – to gift them to families you know, or to work with an organisations like Oranga Tamariki – to empower them to give gifts to families they work with (this already happens in a number of areas).
- As churches, be diligent to participate in Christmas parades, maintaining a respectful nativity-related New Zealand perspective within them – noting stories and ideas here and here
- Develop a nativity experience at your church for the public – noting ideas here, here and here.
- Use and gift the ‘3D Wooden Nativity’ or ‘Nativity Decal’ purchase here
- Regarding the story of Ruatara’s invitation to Marsden, resulting in the first Christian message to Maori – and on Christmas Day… …tell the story or gift a printed copy of ‘The First Kiwi Christmas’ illustrated history story for age 4-7 from Big Book Publishing purchase here
- Regarding the amazing original of the Santa Claus tradition – tell the story or gift, ‘Gifts at Christmas – the story of Saint Nicholas‘ to someone (a children’s story about his life, suiting ages 4-7) – which you can purchase here
- Use ‘Advent Calendars,’ which you can buy online (or from the Warehouse if they sell them like they did at Christmas 2023) or encourage friends to participate via social media – searching ideas here
- Share Christmas video resources on your social media – noting some ideas here
- Starting on the evening on December 1st, read a chapter of the gospel according to Luke each day until Christmas. There are 24 chapters, and this would give you and your family a wonderful understanding of the birth and life if our glorious redeemer, Jesus. (Thanks Liz Akers for this suggestion!). Don’t forget to share your personal insights during this time of reflection.
- Get copies of this bicultural Christmas activity-book/magazine for children from Maori Postal to children – and offer it to families or local schools. Who knows who might accept the gift! Find this here
- Find Christmas themed children’s resources for your Kid’s Church/Sunday School here
- MULTIPLY THE EFFECT – by promoting the VISION of doing something to return CHRIST in CHRISTmas to others – whether sympathetic family, friends or your church (noting this PowerPoint , flyer and 60 second video exist to help).
- Financially support the Hope Project Christmas media campaign – so we can do more – noting that we invest money in this to (a) promote the idea to churches nationally by various means while (b) strategically engaging (with paid boosting) in social media to ensure that wide-reaching audiences see the CHRIST of CHRISTmas on those platforms. We work with intelligence, strategy and intent. Please donate here to support this effort and similar ongoing Christian work.
Hope Project Christmas aspires to make Christ the focal point at Christmas by encouraging individuals to display nativities wherever they can.
THIS WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE…
Spread the vision and share these ideas with your family, friends, church, and small groups. Inspire everyone to see how their individual contributions can create a significant impact.
This simple idea will normalise nativities again in the public view, highlight Jesus’s significance at Christmas, influence negative perceptions, engage public curiosity, and inspire conversations.
Together, let’s use the simple NATIVITY imagery to bring Jesus back into view.
There are things we can do together that we cannot do apart.
The New Zealand Church has the capacity to see Christ retained in Christmas in this nation – but only if we have a vision for this, and will work in unison toward it.
Let’s unite in this simple vision to see Christ returned to Christmas!
DAVE MANN. Dave is a creative communicator with a vision to see an understanding of the Christian faith continuing, and also being valued, in the public square in Aotearoa-New Zealand. He has innovated numerous conversational resources for churches, and recently coordinated a 5th nationwide multimedia Easter project purposed to help open conversation between church and non-church people about Christianity take place, including regarding the specifically Christian origins of many of our nation’s most treasured values. Dave is the author of various books and booklets including “Because we care”, “That Leaders might last”, “The Elephant in the Room”, and available for free on this site: “The What and How of Youth and Young Adult ministry”. Married to Heather, they have four young boys and reside in Tauranga, New Zealand.